Cherokee Nation election filing draws 33 candidates

Nine seats on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, the legislative branch for Oklahoma’s largest tribe by population, drew 33 candidates over the four-day filing period in Tahlequah earlier this month. All nine seats drew at least two candidates, setting up a competitive election season for the Cherokee Nation this summer.

Voters in Tribal Council Districts 4, 5 and 9 will select their new representatives after incumbents E.O. “Jr.” Smith, Mike Dobbins and Speaker Mike Shambaugh were term limited. The Cherokee Nation Constitution prevents serving more than two consecutive terms, but it allows councilors to run again after taking an election cycle off. Incumbent Councilors Candessa Tehee, Joshua Sam, Melvina Shotpouch, Kendra McGeady, Danny Callison and Johnny Kidwell all filed for re-election for a second term.

In November, councilors approved new district maps for the 2025 election, redistricting for the first time since 2013. Cherokee citizens living at-large or in Districts 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 15 will vote for their next councilor Saturday, June 7. A runoff election is scheduled for July 26 if no candidate receives a majority in any race.

The following candidates, in alphabetical order by last name per district, filed by the Feb. 6 deadline:

District 2 (Tahlequah):

• Issac Collins, of Tahlequah;

• Candessa Tehee, the incumbent councilor; and

• David Walkingstick, a former councilor from 2011 to 2019, candidate for principal chief in 2017, and candidate for deputy chief in 2023.

District 4 (Muscogee, McIntosh and Sequoyah counties):

• Steve Carter, a former Sequoyah County commissioner for District 2 from 2004-20;

• Janis Dearman, a former senior Cherokee Nation Businesses employee now working for Ho-Chunk Inc., a company owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska;

• Elana Strable Gallardo, a model, actress and employee with the Cherokee Nation Office of Veteran Affairs;

• Uriah Grass of Vian, who has a history as a competitive fisherman;

• Stephen Maples, an employee at Cherokee Nation Enterprises;

• Mandy Scott, the owner of the Harmony House tearoom in Muskogee; and

• Joie Sneed, an educator.

District 5 (Tulsa, Sperry and Owasso):

• Ashley Grant, a former senior director for laboratory sciences at the Cherokee Nation;

• Frank Whitlock, a Marine Corps veteran; and

• Charles Wilkes, a member of the City of Tulsa’s housing and urban development committee and sales tax overview committee.

District 7 (Adair and Sequoyah counties):

• Derrick Ross, a former Cherokee Nation security guard; and

• Joshua Sam, the incumbent councilor.

District 9 (Mayes, Delaware and Craig counties):

• Anthony Davis, a former Cherokee Casinos employee;

• Rusty Henson, a U.S. Army veteran, former GRDA police officer and owner of Henson Protection Services;

• Clifton Hughes, a candidate for the Tribal Council’s District 9 in 2017;

• Debra McGlasson, a retired human resources professional;

• Connie Newton, a candidate for the Wickliffe Public Schools Board of Education in 2024;

• Mike Purcell, a candidate for the Tribal Council’s District 11 in 2021; and

• Cody Scott, who does not appear to have a campaign website.

District 10 (Delaware and Ottawa counties):

• Haley Buzzard, the business development director for AISES and a member of the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas; and

• Melvina Shotpouch, the incumbent councilor.

District 11 (Washington, Nowata, Craig and Rogers counties):

• Timothy Keeton, of South Coffeyville;

• Janatha Ketchum-Carter, a Vinita bail bondsman; and

• Kendra McGeady, the appointed incumbent councilor.

District 15 (Rogers and Mayes counties):

• Jennifer Blalock, an administrative manger at Palmer Addiction Recovery Services; and

• Danny Callison, the incumbent councilor.

At-large District:

• Jonathan Carter, an army veteran and attorney;

• William Crowder II, who appears to have little online presence;

• Johnny Jack Kidwell, an incumbent councilor; and

• Brandi Ross, a businesswoman who most recently worked for The Akana Group in Tulsa.

Candidates filing for office must be 25 years old by the date of the election, must be “domiciled” within their district and must be citizens of the Cherokee Nation.